What Happened to Molly Hatchet?

[Vipercussionist]

1979, Outlaws, with Hatchet opening.
What a great night of southern rock.
RIP all of Hatchet, and RIP Hughie, Billy, Freddy and Frank.
You are all missed, and thanks for the music.

[dougkennedy]

As of 8-2 2020 all the original memebers have passed away.
The remnant is a coverband.
Seen them back in 86. Had front row "seats".
They were there with Blackfoot and XYZ.
GREAT SHOW.

[guillermo]

It should be against the law for a band's name to be carried on with no original members.

[johnmassung]

I saw Molly Hatchet for the first time on July 1st, 1979. They were on a bill in Legend Valley, Ohio called Dixie Jam II along with The Allman Brothers Band, Outlaws & Pure Prairie League. A local band McGuffey Lane opened. MH put on a blistering performance in support of their 1st album I recall.

[rikd]

My first introduction to Molly Hatchet was "Beatin" the Odds", and I was blown away.
I still find Farrar's vocal abilities to far exceed Danny Joe Brown's, although DJB was a far more iconic lead vocalist.
Farrar was also on the album "Take No Prisoners" before Brown returned for "No Guts No Glory".
I'm still a fan, but really only for their '78 thru '84 heyday.

[daves]

I saw the original lineup probably 30 times in the late 70s and 80s. Growing up in Florida. They were everywhere. Beatin The Odds is also a fantastic album, Jimmy could sing his ass off. This band now should change their name, just a cover band.

[rodl.miller]

In December of 1994, I was sitting down at the Planet Hollywood Bar on 57th Street in NYC when this guy started talking to me. He had noticed that I was wearing boots, which was unusual in NYC. We just started talking when he said that the band that he was in just got done playing across the street at the Hard Rock Cafe. I asked him what band and he said Molly Hatchet. It turned out that he was the keyboardist that replaced Steve Holland, John Galvin.
Growing up, Molly Hatchet was always my favorite band. The next thing I know, I'm meeting Danny Joe Brown and shaking his hand. It was truly a fan meeting a hero and discovering that he was just as cool as you had hoped. Danny Joe couldn't have been any nicer.
I sat down with John again and just started chatting away when we heard the rest of the band singing Down on the corner by CCR. I joined in singing with them and had one of the greatest experiences of my life, singing with one of my heroes.
After we got done, I sat down with John, and a drunk blond comes over and hands me a piece of paper with the Planet Hollywood logo on it and asked me for my autograph. I told her that I wasn't with the band. John leans over to me and says: "Look, she's drunk. I remember seeing her across the street when we were playing. She just knows that we were someone at some point. Go ahead and sign it. I heard you sing, and when you knew the words, you sounded pretty damn good to me. You have my permission to sign it." So, I did.
Afterwards, she goes and gets John's, he leans over and says to me, "congratulations, there's now proof that you sang for 1 night only with Molly Hatchet at Planet Hollywood in NYC and it's a drunk blond that has the evidence."
At 58, I've had the honor of meeting a couple of my heroes, this is my favorite story to tell.
For those of you that know NYC today, Planet Hollywood used to be on 57th Street next to Carnegie Hall. The Hard Rock Cafe was across the street from Planet Hollywood. They moved to their current location in the early 2000's.

[LeonardMoney]

Actually, Brown left the band because he had health problems. You also forgot to mention Phil McCormack

[ronaldshank]

I'm "Molly Hatchet" ain't Molly Hatchet no more. Not with no surviving members left. What we got here, are people that are trying to carry on the Molly Hatchet tradition...and I understand. I mean, I get it. But, to anybody that followed Molly
Sorry, but it just ain't the same.

[glenknowles]

I had the privilege of seeing this band perform many times.
My favorite was a show at Century 21 Apartments in Jacksonville Florida… my memory isn’t great these days it was prior to release of debut album 🐊

[williamsullivan]

I know they still have great musicians but I just loved the original members!

[sadiejones]

I listen to the music frequently, Gator Country is one of my favorites. Saw them once live and loved them.

[MedicCop]

Bryan Bassett played on “Play That Funky Music” with Wild Cherry. He went on to play with Foghat before joining Molly Hatchet. He later went back to Foghat, where he’s been ever since. In 2024 they had a blues album that hit number 1 on the Billboard charts. It resided in the top 10 for something like 31 weeks.

[Rezndutlaw]

Molly Hatchet, Outlaws, and Blackfoot Memorial Rock 1983 in Fredericksburg, VA. Danny Joe Brown was awesome that day and still one of My favorite concerts.
RIP DJB

[ScootinIsLife]

Got to see the original members several times through out the late 70's and early 80's. Now just a tribute/cover band !

[chrisdelong]

One of the guys used to live a few blocks away from me in Indian River. He was all caught up in drugs. Jesus is coming back soon … very soon!
Amen!

[MichaelBrown-nyet]

What happened? They all died in their 50’s.

[jameswaddell]

I first saw the band in 1975 when i was in the U.S.Navy aboard the U.S.S.Saratoga CV-60 stationed in Mayport, Fl. I would go down to Jax Beach, and they played a club in which the band set up behind the long bar. Got out of the Navy in 1977 went to Ohio, and on my way back Molly Hatchet was playing at a much better club! I stayed for a long set, and then heard Danny Joe talking to someone, saying when they got done that gig, they were heading Atlanta to perform for Exec's from Epic records hoping to get signed! In 1978 i was in a record store in Merritt Island Fl. called Mother's Records, and there was the very first Molly Hatchet album, in the New Releases section. Not only surprised, but also happy for the band! Problem with the band though is they got too big for there britches! In 1980 or 1981 Charlie Daniels was going to kick them off the Volunteer Jam he hosted every year. They were being real Assholes, and Charlie said i can replace you in your set if you want. Anyone more outburst and you are DONE! Well from then on it was YES SIR NO SIR Mr. guitar player friends from Grinderswitch and the Henry Paul Band told me this story

[willwilburn]

Once they started replacing original members their music went down tremendously. Now Just like the Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band they need to retire the name of a once great band because these new clowns are not Molly Hatchet.

[deansmith]

Wonder how many albums Molly Hatchet sold because of their albums cover art to soon to be disappointed heavy metal fans?